The Democratic advocate., 1887-04-16
EAsrER Ar rHE cHuRcHEs.
EASTER AT THE CHUHCHEb.
A Bright Day-Elaborate Decorationg-Large
CONGREGATIONS.

Bright Day-Elaborate Decorationg-Large
Congregations.
Easter Sunday, 1887, was a perfect day.
Not cloud floated across the heavens, and
the sun shone out bright and warm, while a
light breeze served to cool the temperature
and avert discontinue from the rather sudden
advent of almost summer weather. Easter is
more and more observed with each succeeding
year, and the day was marked with special
services in all of the churches. Bright vest
ments and lovely flowers succeeded the sombre
colors of the Lenten season in the Catholic
and Episcopal Churches. and in all there were
beautiful decorations and extra music.
AT ASCENSION CHURCH.
Easter Day was observed at Ascension
Church according to the usual custom of the
parish. As Easter is the queen of festivals
in the church's calendar, so the members of
Ascension parish endeavor to celebrate that
day to the best of their ability, in full accord
ance with the joyful event it commentaries,
and with the plainly declared intention of the
Church. There were very large congregations
present at both celebrations of the Holy Eu-
charist. The altar was tastefully and beauti-
fully decorated by loving hands, and the
unanimous verdict was that the sanctuary
never looked more lovely. The music was
well rendered by the choir, aided by some ad-
ditional voices, whose help deserved and re-
ceived the sincere thanks of the congregation.
An additional feature in the music, and one
which proved of most efficient service to the
choir, was the cornet played by Prof. How
lett In the Chapel for the colored people
large congregation attended the Vesper Ser
vice, which was held at o'clock, and the
music was excellent, and showed faithful
practice by the members of the colored choir.
1t is to be hoped, and there is good reason for
hoping, that the beauty of the sanctuary, the
music, and the stately and imposing ritual
were, as they were intended to be, an outward
indication of that true, inward, spiritual, zeal
and devotion which Easter Day so forcibly
impresses on the minds of Christian people.
The programme of the music was as follows
Morning "At the Lambs
High Feast We Sing" introit anthem, so
Risen Lord'':- Ddnks; Wordward's Com
Dupion Service in D; o6ertory anthem,
sentence, 'sThou Art Worthy, o Lord"-Gd-
bert; communion hymn, "Bread of the
World'',-J. S. B. Hodges; solo during the
communion, "Oh, Saviour, Hear Me;' Nunc
Dimmittis, Gregorian, service book; process
sional, ''Christ, the Lord, is Risen To-Day.
Vespers-Processional, "At the Lambs High
Feast We Sing;' choral service, service book;
Psalter, Gregorian, service book; Magnifcat,
Gilbert; Nunc Dimmittis- Gilbert; anthem,
"Christ, Our Passover" Chapple; offertory
anthem, 'Thls is the Day Which the Lord
Hath Made Wallace offertory sentence,
''Thou art Worthy, o Lord Gilbert; after
"Christ the Lord, is Risen To-Day" YES
per Services for the colored people-Proces-
sional, "The Strife is O'er;" choral service,
service book; Psalter, Gregorian; anthem,
''This is the Day Which the Lord Hath Made
Wallace; Nunc Dimmittis- Gilbert; Gloria
Patri, Emerson; offertory anthem, Chime,
Easter Bells, To-Day Burbank; offertory
sentence. Thou Art Worthy, o Lord
Gilbert; Magnifcat at-Best; after blessing, 117th
Psalm, Gregorian; recessional, "Christ, the
Lord, is Risen To-Day"
AT CENTENARY N. E. CHURCH.
At Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church
special Easter services were held. In the
morning the pastor, Rev. G. w. Cooper,
preached a sermon appropriate to the day.
AT night Young Peoples Easter service was
conducted under the direction Of Rev. 81: D.
Mitchell, who delivered an address. There
were readings, singing by the choir, and select
music by several young ladies. Mr.. Frank
W. Mitten. the leader of the choir, had charge
of the music. 1t was largely attended, and
an enjoyable occasion.
METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.
The church was dressed with beautiful
array of flowers and eyergreens. The pastor
being absent, attending Conference at Easton,
the morning sermon was preached by Prot.
IS. Simpson. In the evening there was Sab
bath School Easter service, entitled 'Beanti-
ful Morning." including responsive scripture
lessons, singing, recitations and an address by
w. l.. Seabrook, ESQ.,, the superintendent.
The service began with an organ voluntary,
followed by the choral song: Beautiful
morning bright is the dawning, Jesus has
banished the gloom" Then prayer by Prof.
Simpson, and then the chorus, "Break from
your bondage of winter, 0 earth, wake to a
spring. time of music and myrth." The re-
mainder of the service included responsive
LESSONS: "Joy and Gladness > ''He is
Risen - 'Praise Him. and "Peace," inter-
spersed with singing and recitations. The
audience was large and the sermon quite i'm
yTessive.
EASTER AT ST. PAUIfs REFORMED CHURCH.
The usual festivities characterized the OBJ
servance of Easter at st. Paufs Reformed
Church this year. The day was begun with
early service at quarter after five o'clock.
The second service was held at half past ten
O'Clock, and in connection with it the Holy
Communion of the Lords Supper was cele-
brated The Sunday School services were
held at night, Large congregations were
present at all Of these, and remarks bearing
upon the significance and character of the
resurrection, listened to attentively by them.
The music for the first two services was fur
nished by the choir of the congregation, Miss
Mikesell leading, Mrs. Gehr playing the organ,
Mr.. Liedlich, the cornet, and Mr.. Granville
Bankert, the violin. The music was of q high
and churchly order, and rendered with unu-
sual effect and beauty. The altar decorations,
which had been made under the supervision
of Mr.. Charles j. Baker, were elaborate and
admired by all who saw them. The offerings
of the people were to be devoted to domestic
and foreign missions, and, we learn, were in
keeping with the former liberality shown
earlier in the history of the congregation.
AT GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH.
This handsome structure was appropriately
decorated with potted flowers and plants, and
two crosses of marble spalls, with wreathes
of flowers placed upon the stand on either
side of the pulpit On Easter eve prepara-
tory services were held, rite of confirmation
administered, and Rev. Il. W: Kuhns, D.
D., the pastor, preached an able sermon from
Revelations, 18th chapter and 9th verse, his
subject being "The Marriage Supper Of the
Lamb" Twelve persons were received into
the church, three by certificate and nine by
confirmation. The congregation was unu-
sually large, and the musical part of the SER
vices was of high order, with Miss BERTHE
Geiselman organist. The anthem, "Am l
Soldier of the Cross" was admirably rem
dered On Easter morning, at 1880 O. clock,
there were morning service, sermon and COM
munion. The anthems for the day was
''Christ our Passover" by Ddnks, and "Lift
vo..Glod Uoioao ~ hv the sana Dr Knhns